Systems and methods for synchronizing delivery of related parcels via computerized locker bank

Abstract

A synchronized delivery system for delivering parcels directly to an alternate delivery location such as a locker bank in lieu of making any delivery attempt at a primary delivery location such as a home or office. The system may deliver parcels directly to the alternate delivery location when a related parcel is currently stored at the alternate delivery location awaiting pickup. A related parcel may include a parcel addressed to the same consignee, to a related consignee (e.g., such as a neighbor, roommate, or spouse), or to another authorized to pick up parcels on behalf of the consignee. When delivering parcels to alternate deliver locations, the system may facilitate a grouping of related parcels in a single locker.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A direct-to-locker bank delivery system comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 computer storage memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising: 
 determining first package level detail information for a first parcel, the first package level detail information comprising data associated with a first consignee, including a delivery address and first consignee identification information; 
 determining package level detail information for one or more parcels currently stored at a computerized locker bank, the computerized locker bank comprising at least one or more locker bank computers, and a plurality of selectively securable locker compartments comprising one or more doors, and one or more locking mechanisms, wherein the package level detail information comprises consignee information for the one or more parcels; 
 receiving an indication that the first parcel is scheduled for delivery to the delivery address; 
 determining whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank are associated with the first parcel based on the package level detail information for the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank and the first package level detail information; 
 in response to determining that the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank are associated with the first parcel, modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to the computerized locker bank and not the delivery address; 
 communicating storage information for storing the first parcel in the computerized locker bank; and 
 in response to communicating the storage information, operating, by the one or more processors, the one or more locking mechanisms on a particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments to open the one or more doors. 
 
     
     
       2. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first package level detail information further comprises one or more dimensions of the first parcel. 
 
     
     
       3. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 based on the one or more dimensions of the first parcel, determining whether a particular one of a plurality of selectively securable locker compartments of the computerized locker bank is sufficiently large to accommodate the first parcel; and 
 in response to determining whether the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments is sufficiently large to accommodate the first parcel, facilitating placement of the first parcel in the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments. 
 
     
     
       4. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to the computerized locker bank comprises modifying a delivery route of a delivery vehicle so that the first parcel is delivered to the computerized locker bank. 
 
     
     
       5. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to the computerized locker bank comprises modifying tracking information associated with the first parcel to include a destination of the computerized locker bank. 
 
     
     
       6. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise one or more second parcels based on one or more business rules associated with a logistics provider that is facilitating delivery of the first parcel. 
 
     
     
       7. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise one or more second parcels based on whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise a parcel having a consignee that is authorized to retrieve parcels from the computerized locker bank on behalf of the first consignee. 
 
     
     
       8. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to: 
 receive, from the consignee, a request to authorize one or more individuals to pick up parcels from the computerized locker bank on behalf of the consignee; 
 in response to receiving the request, update data associated with the consignee to include the one or more individuals authorized to retrieve the parcels on behalf of the consignee; and 
 store the updated data in memory. 
 
     
     
       9. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to enable the consignee to provide a selection of one or more unauthorized individuals that are not authorized to pick up parcels from the computerized locker bank on behalf of the consignee. 
     
     
       10. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise the one or more second parcels based on whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise a parcel having a second consignee; and 
 the second consignee is the first consignee. 
 
     
     
       11. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the direct-to-locker bank delivery system further comprises a network of a plurality of computerized locker banks; and 
 the computerized locker bank is a particular computerized locker bank in the network of the plurality of computerized locker banks. 
 
     
     
       12. A direct-to-locker bank delivery system comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 computer storage memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising: 
 determining first package level detail information for a first parcel, the first package level detail information comprising data associated with a first consignee, including a delivery address and first consignee identification information; 
 receiving a first indication that the first parcel is scheduled for delivery to the delivery address; 
 receiving a second indication that an unsuccessful delivery attempt was made for the first parcel; 
 in response to receiving the second indication, modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to a computerized locker bank, the computerized locker bank comprising at least one or more locker bank computers, and a plurality of selectively securable locker compartments comprising one or more doors, and one or more locking mechanisms and not the delivery address; 
 communicating storage information for storing the first parcel in the computerized locker bank; and 
 in response to communicating the storage information, operating, by the one or more processors, the one or more locking mechanisms on a particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments to open the one or more doors. 
 
     
     
       13. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first package level detail information further comprises one or more dimensions of the first parcel. 
 
     
     
       14. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 based on the one or more dimensions of the first parcel, determining whether a particular one of a plurality of selectively securable locker compartments of the computerized locker bank is sufficiently large to accommodate the first parcel; and 
 in response to determining whether the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments is sufficiently large to accommodate the first parcel, facilitating placement of the first parcel in the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments. 
 
     
     
       15. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to the computerized locker bank comprises modifying a delivery route of a delivery vehicle so that the first parcel is delivered to the computerized locker bank. 
 
     
     
       16. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 modifying the first package level detail information to include the delivery of the first parcel to the computerized locker bank comprises modifying tracking information associated with the first parcel to include a destination of the computerized locker bank. 
 
     
     
       17. The direct-to-locker bank delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the one or more parcels currently stored at the computerized locker bank comprise one or more second parcels based on one or more business rules associated with a logistics provider that is facilitating delivery of the first parcel. 
 
     
     
       18. A computer-implemented method of facilitating delivery of a first parcel to a locker bank,
 operating one or more processors to do the following: 
 providing instructions to deliver a first parcel to a first location; 
 receiving information of an unsuccessful delivery attempt for the first parcel; 
 at least partially in response to receiving information, determining whether one or more second parcels currently stored at a computerized locker bank, the computerized locker bank comprising at least one or more locker bank computers, and a plurality of selectively securable locker compartments comprising one or more doors, one or more locking mechanisms are associated with the first parcel; 
 in response to determining that the one or more second parcels are associated with the first parcel, routing the first parcel to the computerized locker bank; and 
 in response to routing the first parcel, operating, by the one or more processors, the one or more locking mechanisms on a particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments to open the one or more doors. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first location is the at least one second location; 
 the first parcel has a first consignee; and 
 determining whether one or more second parcels currently stored at the second location are associated with the first parcel comprises determining whether the one or more second parcels have a second consignee selected from a group consisting of: 
 i. a neighbor of the first consignee; 
 ii. an individual that shares a primary delivery address with the first consignee; and 
 iii. the first consignee. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 retrieving a first package level detail information for the first parcel, the first package level detail information comprising one or more first dimensions; 
 retrieving a second package level detail information for the one or more second parcels associated with the first parcel, the second package detail level information comprising one or more second dimensions; 
 determining, based on the one or more first dimensions and the one or more second dimensions, whether a particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments is sufficiently large to accommodate both the first parcel and the one or more second parcels associated with the first parcel; and 
 in response to determining that the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments is sufficiently large to accommodate both the first parcel and the one or more second parcels associated with the first parcel, facilitating placement of the first parcel and the one or more second parcels associated with the first parcel in the particular one of the plurality of selectively securable locker compartments.